Thomas Teevan (Unionist politician)

Thomas Leslie Teevan (July 1927 – 11 October 1954) was an Ulster Unionist Party politician and lawyer, notable for his extreme youth when first elected, brief career, and very early death.

Thomas Teevan
Member of Parliament
for Belfast West
In office
29 November 1950 – 25 October 1951
Preceded byJ. G. MacManaway
Succeeded byJack Beattie
Personal details
Born
Thomas Leslie Teevan

July 1927
Limavady, Northern Ireland
Died11 October 1954 (age 27)
Portstewart, Northern Ireland
Political partyUlster Unionist
Alma materQueen's University Belfast

Early life

Thomas Teevan was born in Limavady, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland, in 1927. He was educated at Limavady Academy and Queen's University Belfast. He was a lecturer in law.

Brief political career

In 1950, a vacancy arose in the Belfast West constituency, owing to the disqualification of the Reverend J. G. MacManaway for being an Anglican priest despite the Church of Ireland being disestablished. Teevan was selected as Unionist candidate for the ensuing by-election.

He was elected on 29 November 1950 over the Northern Ireland Labour Party candidate, Jack Beattie, a former MP for the seat, by 913 votes. Teevan was aged only 23 and became Baby of the House upon taking the oath on 5 December 1950.[1]

His tenure lasted only 330 days, and he lost the seat to Beattie by just 25 votes in the 1951 general election. Aged only 24, he thus became the youngest person to leave the House of Commons in modern times. MacManaway himself died in November 1951, aged 53.

Early death

Teevan qualified as a barrister in Northern Ireland in 1952. He also served as Chairman of Limavady Urban District Council.

Teevan died suddenly in 1954, at his home in Portstewart, County Londonderry, aged just 27.

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See also

Notes
  1. "Search: teevan (Hansard)". Hansard.millbanksystems.com. Retrieved 23 May 2012.

References
  • 'Who's Who of British MPs: Volume IV, 1945-1979' by Michael Stenton and Stephen Lees (Harvester, Brighton, 1979) ISBN 0-85527-335-6
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
J. G. MacManaway		 Member of Parliament for Belfast West
November 1950 – 1951		 Succeeded by
Jack Beattie
Preceded by
Tony Benn		 Baby of the House
1950–1951		 Succeeded by
Tony Benn
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